Non-welded base for stands or furniture



Oct. 20, 1964 w. s. GREENFIELD ETAL 3,153,524

NON-WELDED BASE FOR STANDS OR FURNITURE Filed April 30, 1963 lr'q l6 II5 ?J. E -L INVENTORS WALTER S. GREENF/ELD THOMAS OATES ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,153,524 N 0N -WELDED BASE FOR TAND 0R FURNITURE WalterS. Greenfield, Atglen, and Thomas Dates, Coates= viiie, Pa, assignors toLukens teel Qompany, tloatesville, E21,, a corporation of PennsylvaniaFiled Apr. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 276,824 9 Claims. Ci. 24818) Thisinvention relates to a breakdown support stand for furnitureparticularlytables. More specifically, it relates to a stand with a central columnand a hub-like base having a plurality of legs extending outwardlythereform, which can be readily dismantled for shipment and storage.

In the construction of supporting means for furniture, particularlytables, provision must be made for a variety of forces which act uponthe supporting means. The majority of such forces are downwardlydirected brought about by the weight of the table top and whatever isplaced upon it. For this reason, the most eifective table constructionfrom the strength standpoint is generally a plurality of more or lessstraight legs disposed around the table top at or somewhat inwardly fromits periphery. However, this arrangement presents certain disadvantagesin that the legs may also act as an obstruction or hinderance to chairsor the like which it is desired to place around the table. Accordingly,the pedestal or column type of support is popular, particularly whereadded flexibility is desired in grouping chairs around the table andwhere the use of straight legs is otherwise inconvenient. Pedestalstands of this type are exemplified in the prior art by US. Patent Nos.210,188, 582,973 and 868,153. But, the pedestal type of stand has adisadvantage of requiring considerably more strength, comparativelyspeaking, in its various parts. Consequently, the pedestal stand is, forthe same strength requirements, much heavier in its totality thancomparable support means furnished by straight legs. It will thus beappreciated that steel, which has a high strength-weight ratio, is wellsuited for the construction of pedestal type stands. For a number ofyears, the spider type of steel casting has been popular for suchstands. More recently, the general trend has been for a sheared plateleg which is welded to the pedestal column. However, both the former andmore particularly the latter, which is less expensive, cause a shippingand inventory problem due to the space taken by the extended legs.

it is an object of this invention to provide a strong non-weldedbreakdown support stand which can be readily shipped, stored inwarehouses, and assembled on site, and at the same time hasapproximately the same weight and strength as welded stands of the sametype.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stand of thetype involved which can be easily stored in its dismantled condition bythe user, and should the leg, hub member, column, etc. of a stand in usebecome damaged and require replacement, such replacement can be easilyand economically provided by obtaining the part involved from themanufacturer rather than to require a rewelding job or an entirely newstand.

A still further object is to provide a simplified structure whereby thelegs are secured firmly in place to the hub member, but without unduerigidity so that the legs will give slightly with heavy loads orstrains.

Further objects and advantages will appear as the descriptionprogresses, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings in which:

FlGURE l is a side elevation showing the support stand of the inventioncarrying a table top;

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional view taken on lines Illl of FIGURE 1;and

3,153,524 Patented Get. 23, 19fi4 FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of thesupport stand in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, a steel hub member 16 has spaced aroundits periphery a plurality of notches 11 which extend upwardly from theopen bottom of the hub member to a place thereon which is spaced fromsuch members top 12. It will be noted that the top 12 is an integralpart of the hub member 10 and is provided with an opening 14 in itscenter. Received in the notches 11 and spaced around the hub member 10are a plurality (four in this case) of steel legs 15. These legs arerectangular in cross-section, being fabricated from steel plates, andare each provided with an indentation 16 in their upper end. The inwardend of each leg 15 is thus received within notch 11, the indentation 16receiving a portion of the hub 16 above notch 11.

A horizontally disposed circular steel lock Washer comprising disc 1'7is received in the lower portion of the hub 10. Disc 17 has an aperture20 in its center and its peripheral edges 21 are adjacent to andpartially within the lower portion of the hub 10. A hollow cylindricalpedestal column 23 is disposed on .the top 12 of the hub 10 and a tabletop brace member 25 is received on the top of the pedestal 23. A rod 30extends from the brace member 25, through the pedestal 23, through theopening 14 in the top 12 of hub 10 and, finally, through the aperture2t) of the disc 17. The rod 30 is threaded on both ends and receives aretaining member on each end, comprising washers 31 and 33, and nuts 32and 34. Additional washers may be employed with washers 31 and 33, ifdesired, and part or all of such washers may be composed of a deformableor elastic material. It will be appreciated that by tightening nuts 32and 34, the aforesaid legs 15, and hub 10, pedestal 23 and brace member25 are securely clamped together.

Referring particularly now to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that varioussurfaces of contact between the hub 10 together with its top 12, and thedisc 1'7, on one hand, and with leg 15 on the other hand, have beendelineated A, B, C and D. By tightening the nut 34, the areas B and C,and area D at its upper aspect are brought into tight gripping cont-act.When the stand is placed in its normal position as shown in FIGURE 3 thearea A also represents a close contact between the leg 15 and the hub 10due to the weight of the table and stand. The gripping areas B and Dserve to assist in the maintenance of leg 15 in its desired horizontaland vertical positions. However, it will be appreciated that thehorizontal alignment of the leg 15 is accomplished also by the sides ofthe slot 11. It is important to note that there is a considerable areaof free space between the terminal end of leg 15 Within the hub 10 andthe rod 30. In this connection, it will be understood that the disc 17is more easily deformed about a horizontal axis intersecting thelongitudinal axis of rod 30, than the corresponding leg 15 to which saidhorizontal axis is perpendicular. If this free space did not exist andarea B extended to orifice 20, there is a danger that the suddenoccurrence of force on the leg 15 as might be caused, for example, by anindividual roughly sitting on the table 19 at point E (FIGURE 1), wouldcause nut 32 or 34 to shear its threads and the table to collapse. Byproviding the contact of area B at only the periphery of disc 17, thisdanger is greatly reduced. Thus, should an individual sit roughly atpoint E, the leg 15 below point E will pivot slightly upward about thearea C, causing B to diminish a small amount because of the outwardmovement of the corresponding portion of leg 15. Disc 17, having acertain inherent resilience, will bend slightly downward. The net effectis that the moving mass which produces the force at point E isdeaccelerated over a larger distance and period of time than otherwiseand the jolt which would be received by nuts 32 and 34 is considerablyabsorbed and reduced. Also, because under such circumstances, leg 15 maymove relative to disc 17, the jolt is also reduced for the hub 12 andleg 15. If washers 31 and 33 are composed of a resilient material, thejolt is further absorbed. The truncated conical shape of brace member 25also contributes to the shock absorbing qualities of the stand.

It will be appreciated that the same size of hub Ill may be used withvarious lengths of legs 15, a circumstance which further reducesinventory and manufacturing costs.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness ofunderstanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, for modifications will be obvious to those skilled in theart.

We claim:

1. A knockdown base for a table which comprises: a steel hub member;said hub member being substantially cylindrical in shape with an openbottom and a plurality of notches spaced around it extending upwardlyfrom the bottom along the sides to a place spaced from the top of saidhub; said hub member having a top portion with an opening in the center;a horizontally disposed circular steel disc received in the lowerportion of said hub; said hub having an aperture in its center and withedges adjacent to and within the lower portion of said hub; a hollowcylindrical pedestal column disposed on top of said hub; a table topbrace received on the top of said pedestal; a rod; said rod beingthreaded on at least one end; retaining means associated with each endof said rod; at least one of said retaining means cooperating with thethreads on said rod; a plurality of steel legs; each of said legs beingof elongated rectangular cross-section; each of said legs beingremovably received at its inward end in one of said notches andextending normally from said hub member; there being an indentation inthe upper edge of each of said legs which receives at least part of saidhub member above said notch; said disc bearing upwardly against thelower portions of the ends of said legs within said hub member; theupper portions of the ends of said legs within said hub member bearingagainst the top portion of said hub; said rod extending from said bracethrough said column, the opening in said top portion, and the aperturein said disc; the ends of said legs within said hub member being spacedfrom said rod; said retain- Cit ing means securely clamping theaforesaid disc, legs, hub, pedestal and brace together.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said table top brace hasat least in part the shape of a truncated cone, said part being receivedin the top of said pedestal.

3. In a knockdown base for stands for furniture: a steel hub member;said hub member having an open bottom and a plurality of notches spacedaround and extending upwardly from the bottom to a place spaced from thetop of said hub; said hub member having a top portion with an opening inthe center; a horizontally disposed steel disc received in the lowerportion of said hub; said disc 7 having its edges adjacent to and withinthe lower portion of said hub; a plurality of steel legs; each of saidlegs being removably received at its inward end in one of said notchesand extending normally from said hub member; there being an indentationin the upper edge of each of said legs which receives at least part ofsaid hub member above said notch; said disc bearing upwardly against thelower portions of the ends of said legs within said hub member; theupper portions of the ends of said legs within said hub member bearingagainst the top portion of said hub; and clamping means clamping theaforesaid disc, legs and hub securely together, said clamping meanscomprising a rod extending through the center of said disc and a nut onthe outer end thereof, said legs within said hub member being spacedfrom said rod.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said hub member issubstantially cylindrical in shape.

5. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said top portion and saidhub portion are integral.

6. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said disc is circular.

7. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said hollow pedestalcolumn is cylindrical.

8. The invention according to claim 3 wherein said steel legs are of anelongated rectangular cross-section.

9. The invention of claim 3 wherein said legs bear against the outerportion of said disc and said clamping means bears against the centralportion of said disc.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A KNOCKDOWN BASE FOR A TABLE WHICH COMPRISES: A STEEL HUB MEMBER;SAID HUB MEMBER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL IN SHAPE WITH AN OPENBOTTOM AND A PLURALITY OF NOTCHES SPACED AROUND IT EXTENDING UPWARDLYFROM THE BOTTOM ALONG THE SIDES TO A PLACE SPACED FROM THE TOP OF SAIDHUB; SAID HUB MEMBER HAVING A TOP PORTION WITH AN OPENING IN THE CENTER;A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED CIRCULAR STEEL DISC RECEIVED IN THE LOWERPORTION OF SAID HUB; SAID HUB HAVING AN APERTURE IN ITS CENTER AND WITHEDGES ADJACENT TO AND WITHIN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID HUB; A HOLLOWCYLINDRICAL PEDESTAL COLUMN DISPOSED ON TOP OF SAID HUB; A TABLE TOPBRACE RECEIVED ON THE TOP OF SAID PEDESTAL; A ROD; SAID ROD BEINGTHREADED ON AT LEAST ONE END; RETAINING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH ENDOF SAID ROD; AT LEAST ONE OF SAID RETAINING MEANS COOPERATING WITH THETHREADS ON SAID ROD; A PLURALITY OF STEEL LEGS; EACH OF SAID LEGS BEINGOF ELONGATED RECTANGULAR CROSS-SECTION; EACH OF SAID LEGS BEINGREMOVABLY RECEIVED AT ITS INWARD END IN ONE OF SAID NOTCHES ANDEXTENDING NORMALLY FROM SAID HUB MEMBER; THERE BEING AN INDENTATION INTHE UPPER EDGE OF EACH OF SAID LEGS WHICH RECEIVES AT LEAST PART OF SAIDHUB MEMBER ABOVE SAID NOTCH; SAID DISC BEARING UPWARDLY AGAINST THELOWER PORTIONS OF THE ENDS OF SAID LEGS WITHIN SAID HUB MEMBER; THEUPPER PORTIONS OF THE ENDS OF SAID LEGS WITHIN SAID HUB MEMBER BEARINGAGAINST THE TOP PORTION OF SAID HUB; SAID ROD EXTENDING FROM SAID BRACETHROUGH SAID COLUMN, THE OPENING IN SAID TOP PORTION, AND THE APERTUREIN SAID DISC; THE ENDS OF SAID LEGS WITHIN SAID HUB MEMBER BEING SPACEDFROM SAID ROD; SAID RETAINING MEANS SECURELY CLAMPING THE AFORESAIDDISC, LEGS, HUB, PEDESTAL AND BRACE TOGETHER.